Wendell Bruce Walton, 69

October 9, 2010

IDAHO FALLS â€” Wendell Bruce Walton, 69, of Idaho Falls passed away Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Bruce was born July 27, 1941, in Afton, Wyo., to Wendell S. and Sarah Duke Walton. At the age of two the family moved to Montpelier where he received his schooling and graduated from Montpelier High School.
After high school he joined the United States Army and served in Vietnam and continued serving for 23 years when he was honorably discharged as a major. He completed two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was a specialist in ordinance disposal. While serving he was called on many times to assist the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service. While in the service he attended Washington State University where he earned his bachelors degree in Mathematics and a masters degree in Computer Science.
He married Sandra Oehlen and to this union two sons were born, James Patrick and Michael Joseph. They were later divorced.
Upon retirement from the service he was an instructor in the Computer Science Department for Washington State University for a number of years. While teaching there, he completed all the courses for his doctorate. He lived in Pullman, Wash., until the last three years, when he moved to Idaho Falls.
In his free time, Bruce enjoyed golfing, fishing, reading, cooking, water rafting, skiing and spending time with his brothers and sons. He was always looking for a new place to catch a king salmon. He fished in Alaska, British Columbia and the Great Lakes. He was a friend to all, he was kind and tenderhearted.
Bruce is survived by his sons, James Walton of Layton, Utah, and Michael (Kathy) Walton of Montgomery, Ala.; mother, Sarah Walton of Ammon; brothers, Gary (Marsha) Walton of Shelley and Paul (Diana) Walton of Murray, Utah; six grandchildren, Daniel Bruce, Anthony William, Tara Lejeune, Amy Lejeune, Amy Walton and Kacey Walton; and one great-grandchild, Cameron Dunlap.
Bruce was preceded in death by his father, Wendell; and grandson, Brian James Walton.
A viewing is scheduled for 1 p.m. and funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010, at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 South Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot. Condolences may be sent to the family at condolences@hawkerfuneralhome.com.